Popular Japanese songs among women in their 50s: recommended classics and staple tracks
If you’re currently in your 50s, songs from the ’80s and ’90s are probably packed with memories of your youth, aren’t they?
And there are likely many tracks from the 2000s that feel familiar and nostalgic as well.
In this article, we’ll introduce a selection of recommended songs for women in their 50s, focusing on music from the ’80s through the 2000s.
We’ve carefully chosen only tracks that were popular at the time, so you’re sure to reunite with some old favorites.
We hope you’ll enjoy listening closely—and that this list will also come in handy when choosing songs for karaoke.
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Popular Japanese songs among women in their 50s: Recommended classics and standard tracks (21–30)
City Hunter ~Don't Let Love Disappear~Kahoru Kohiruimaki
Kahoru Kohiruimaki is a female singer renowned for her low-register vocals.
She was an active and popular singer throughout the 1980s and 1990s, known for her stylish, smooth musicality that matched the era.
“City Hunter ~Ai yo Kienaide~” is one of her hit songs.
It’s arranged as a house-influenced pop track, which was quietly gaining popularity at the time, and it stays within a moderate vocal range.
While it carries a slight flavor of Black music, it doesn’t employ techniques like vocal runs or hiccups, so the overall difficulty is relatively low.
Don't give up on your dreamsTakako Okamura
After her success as a member of Amin, Takako Okamura also flourished as a singer-songwriter.
She has an exceptionally clear voice and excels at simple vocals that make the most of her tone.
“Yume wo Akiramenaide” is one of her signature songs.
Its range is narrow and there’s not much vibrato, so simply staying on pitch is enough to aim for a high score.
While the scarcity of long tones makes it a bit harder to rack up bonus points with vibrato or falls, the pitch is undeniably easy to follow—so definitely consider adding it to your repertoire.
Japanese popular music favored by women in their 50s: Recommended masterpieces and classic songs (31–40)
North WingAkina Nakamori
Akina Nakamori’s song, which portrays the resolve and inner conflict of a woman in love, was released in January 1984 and reached No.
2 on the Oricon Weekly Singles Chart.
On The Best Ten, it soared to No.
1 on January 19 and went on to hold the top spot for five consecutive weeks, becoming a major hit.
With a clear, transparent voice, it conveys the delicate emotions of a woman departing from Narita Airport for a foreign land.
Though there is anxiety in her decision to leave everything behind and fly off to follow her lover, her determination to move forward while holding onto hope for the future is striking.
The distinctive vocal style later known as the “Akina Vibrato” is also part of its appeal.
It’s the perfect song to sing at karaoke with friends while reminiscing about old times.
The Girl Who Leapt Through TimeTomoyo Harada
Tomoyo Harada, who has also been highly active as an actress, has done wonderful work as an artist and has produced numerous classic songs.
Among her tracks, the one I especially recommend is The Girl Who Leapt Through Time.
With lyrics and composition by Yumi Matsutoya, it features a gentle melody and vocal line throughout.
The vocal range is relatively narrow, so even those who struggle with high notes should be able to sing it comfortably by adjusting the key.
Hold On MeKahoru Kohiruimaki
Kahoru Kohiruimaki is a female singer who garnered popularity for her strikingly low, cool vocal timbre and soulful singing.
It was an exceptional achievement for a Japanese artist at the time that she was recognized by figures like Maurice White and Prince.
Among her songs, the one I especially recommend is Hold On Me.
While the track carries hints of soul and R&B, the vocal lines themselves contain elements of Showa-era kayōkyoku, making it easier to sing than it might sound at first.
The range isn’t very wide either, so it’s a good choice for women in their 50s with lower voices.
Nancy of Summer ColorsYu Hayami
Amid the idol boom of the 1980s, Yū Hayami achieved especially remarkable success.
She has produced many classic songs, and among them, “Natsuiro no Nancy” garnered particularly great popularity.
Although the song stands out for its bright and refreshing melody, the vocal line is surprisingly gentle in its rises and falls, and the range isn’t very wide.
The pitch is easy to follow as well, making it a singable choice for women in their 50s who are familiar with the track.
Consider adding it to your repertoire.
Heavenly KissSeiko Matsuda
Seiko Matsuda has many famous songs, but for women in their early 50s, “Heavenly Kiss” may be the one that left the strongest impression.
Among her tracks, this piece is especially characterized by its refreshing melody, yet surprisingly its vocal range isn’t particularly wide.
The English lyrics in the chorus might be a tricky part, but as long as you can pronounce them clearly, it’s quite a singable song.
If you were on Team Seiko back in the day and are now in your 50s, why not give this one a try?